Man drowns when canoe capsizes near Baxter, Minn.; 4-year-old rescued

A canoe carrying two people on a river in central Minnesota capsized Sunday, resulting in one drowning and one rescue, according to the Crow Wing County Sheriff’s Office.

A 64-year-old Brainerd man paddling on the Gull River died, but a four-year-old Arizona boy was saved by local residents who heard his cries for help.

Crow Wing County deputies responded to the incident shortly after 2 p.m. on the Gull River near Barbeau Road north of Baxter.

The boy was treated at the scene and taken by ambulance to Essentia Health Medical Center in Brainerd.

The man’s body was recovered downstream by paramedics and other law enforcement officers, but attempts to resuscitate him were not successful. His body was taken to the Ramsey County medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death.

Names have not been released pending notification of family members.

Authorities said the cause of the capsizing remains under investigation. Both passengers were wearing life jackets.

Earlier this week, Amazon announced that it's hiring 1,000 more full-time workers at its Shakopee fulfillment center. But city and county officials are still assessing reliable transportation options for the 1,500 people who already work there.